Snow Peak Pack And Carry Fireplace

[Steve and Karen]

I know I just posted the folding stainless grill, and some of you have actually ordered one. (Mallory says 'thanks' BTW) But this caught my eye as well, and I may be picking it up in the near future (for myself, under the tree?) ....

Pack & Carry (M) Fireplace

It is marketed as a fireplace option when on-the-ground fires aren't allowed, or where you are boondocking and wish to Leave No Trace (Leave No Trace Canada - Outdoor Ethics [Build Awareness, Appreciation & Respect for our Wildlands]) or at the very least, eliminate ground scarring with an ugly fire ring, where none existed before.

Its design is such that you can cook on it (with a home-designed, or MOE grate), get close to it for warmth, and even dry out some things either under or next to it. Here is a detailed review from a boondocker site... Field Tested: Snow Peak Pack and Carry Fireplace - Expedition Portal. The only slam the reviewer had against it is that you may have to modify it to increase the air intake at the bottom to get a good efficient burn . YMMV.

Obviously, this doesn't get around actual fire bans. But it can allow you to cook with a wood or charcoal fire where it isn't practical to do so otherwise, and not disrupt the environment unnecessarily. I obviously have no practical experience with it but its design suggests that you can cook a meal using substantially less fuel than you would require with a standard fire pit. If fuel quantity is actually an issue for you. I can see this being very handy for off-the-beaten-track travel in the Southwest. Or for those who eschew regular campgrounds.

I have bought many Snow Peak items before (titanium cups, etc) and they are quality. But not cheap. Look around and you can get this on sale or with a coupon, like right now at Campsaver... https://www.campsaver.com/snow-peak-pack-carry-fireplace.html?_iv_code=Z53-2C-SNP0088-461-SM using the current"20SALE" coupon code.

Another Stainless Steel item to add to your do-it-all-anytime-anywhere-I've-got-a-fix-for-that CampInn Travel Kit.

Steve

 

[Henry]

I have been using a Biolite fire pit this summer. So far it has worked out well for both fires and using it to grill with. It does reduce the amount of smoke as advertised, but it is not smokeless. It really helps when trying to burn "marginal" wood and starting fires is really easy. FirePit

 

[Steve and Karen]

Thanks Henry: I had been aware of BiolIte's smaller electricity-generating USB-ported wood stoves. But never had a need to look any further into them as those particular units didn't seem terribly practical for a lot of the stuff I was/am doing, and frankly they seemed a bit gimmicky. (i.e. for the power it generates it would better, cheaper and lighter to carry extra batteries for the device you are charging, or a couple fully charged power sticks)

This fire pit, however, fills a very different niche as upon closer look I see that it is a power consumer with fans to move air around the fuel, and as you say, reduce smoke. Very cool. I have some purchase decisions to make.

 

[Steve and Karen]

After considerable consideration, I pulled the pin on this...

Kamoto OpenFire Pit - Large

... for all the reasons articulated above. However it is head and shoulders above the Snow Peak in that comes with both a base (to protect the ground and catch any errant ash) and grill. Both of these items are extras with the Snow Peak and would push the total cost far above the Primus, were you to get them.

One benefit to these raised fire pits that has come to light that wasn't touched on before is that, given the design and large size of many campground fire rings (including the culvert and concrete monsters discussed in this post... Heavy Duty Folding Stainless Campfire Grill) you don't get a lot of heat off them, particularly if they sunk in the ground, or have a high continuous wall. This raised design should address some 'shoulder season camping' situations where heat is one of the reasons you build a fire, so that you can spend a little longer outside.

Both of these Primus sizes are too large for the under-bed bins, though, so I'll have to come up with another transport solution.

There are a number of thorough and mostly positive reviews of the Kamoto out there, including this... Review: Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit. If, after use in the new year I have anything to add of mine here about the open fire pit, I'll do so. But I do expect this to compliment my GOSO grill; together they should be able to cover off pretty much any type of fire-cooking scenario I can think of, either in an established campground or out in the middle of nowhere.

Steve

 

[Van_and_Terri]

Thank you Steve. I’m seriously considering this one after your post.

 

[jtmiyake]

I have been using the Solo Stove Campfire for the past few years. Burns clean and hot. Really like this for a small, smokeless, campfire.

Solo Stove Campfire

 

[Steve and Karen]

Follow-up review on the Primus Kamoto: Kamoto Open Fire Pit...

I have been using it all summer on top of a combustible deck, with a homemade heat shield underneath, during our 2020 Staycation. It has yet to hit the road with us. However, it functions well, burns nicely and completely, throws a decent amount of heat in all directions, and hasn't shown any warping or other degradation. The heat shield was intended more for capturing errant embers than it was for providing a barrier to radiant heat off the bottom, which is minimal.

The only limitation to its use on a deck is that even with a larger heat shield, it still may throw sparks and embers on to the deck. Especially if you burn something semi-explosive like cedar. This is a non-issue if you use it while at a campsite, or stick with burning hardwood. The grill on top is for cooking only, and is not a spark arrester.

When not burning, the whole unit also functions as a facsimile coffee table, either with the grill in place, or with a homemade tabletop.

 

[Boynextdoor]

Follow-up review on the Primus Kamoto: Kamoto Open Fire Pit...

I have been using it all summer on top of a combustible deck, with a homemade heat shield underneath, during our 2020 Staycation. It has yet to hit the road with us. However, it functions well, burns nicely and completely, throws a decent amount of heat in all directions, and hasn't shown any warping or other degradation. The heat shield was intended more for capturing errant embers than it was for providing a barrier to radiant heat off the bottom, which is minimal.

The only limitation to its use on a deck is that even with a larger heat shield, it still may throw sparks and embers on to the deck. Especially if you burn something semi-explosive like cedar. This is a non-issue if you use it while at a campsite, or stick with burning hardwood. The grill on top is for cooking only, and is not a spark arrester.

When not burning, the whole unit also functions as a facsimile coffee table, either with the grill in place, or with a homemade tabletop.

Hi, it's a really perfect Fire pit. What do you think about classic-looking deck fire pits(this as an example) compared to yours?